GALLAGHER'S WORD

Hello class, and welcome to Bracketology 101. There is no syllabus and much like "syllabus week," drinking is allowed since you're watching college basketball.

Midterms will work like this, if you're bracket is junk by the Sweet 16, let that be a sign that you failed the course and should throw your bracket into the nearest garbage can. It will never get better.

Also, one bracket per student. There is zero tolerance for students who cheat and fill out a "backup" bracket. You will fail the course and will be required to buy the class a round at the bar.

Class, when it comes to making up your bracket, I will blindly lead you into the tournament. As you will learn, or have learned, it's all dumb luck. But I will give you some advice.

-Don't be afraid to pick a Cinderella. There's one or two every year. I wouldn't invest in a 16 seed like Liberty, but take a whack at a 13 or 14 seed. Those Harvard kids are smart, maybe they'll find a way to beat New Mexico, Arizona, and Ohio State (best scenario right now, folks).

-Not all 1's and/or 2's will make the Final Four. Plain and simple.

-Your favorite team will not make it as far as you think they will. I do this with Pitt and Notre Dame every year, class. Then again, you're better to just blindfold yourself, spin around three times and say Dick Vitale three times when making some of your picks.

-Don't bet the house on your bracket. This isn't economics, class, but don't be financially stupid when joining your pools. A $20 pool is reasonable. I'll stop at $50. Unless you have been locked in your basement and have found the formula for a perfect bracket, don't blow too much money during the month of March. Use your tax refund wisely.

Class, I'm not a qualified professor bracketology. Nobody is. The term "March Madness" really does mean something.Fill out the bracket, make a wish, rub the lucky rabbit's foot and hope you get three teams in the Final Four.